Placeholder items that can be exchanged for an item of value based on user performance

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for online gaming including virtual placeholder items that can be exchanged for virtual items of value based on a quantitative performance of the users relative other users in events that take place in the online game.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to online gaming that includes virtualplaceholders items that can be exchanged for virtual items of valuebased on a quantitative performance of users in the online game.

BACKGROUND

Users may access virtual spaces via client computing platforms. Avirtual space may include, for example, an online game. A virtual spacemay include virtual items that are available for use by the users of thevirtual space. Virtual items may include one or more of a virtualweapon, a tool, a food, a currency, a reward, a bonus, health, a potion,an enhancement, a mount, a power-up, a speed-up, clothing, a vehicle, ananatomical feature of a character or game entity, a troop or troop type,a pet, a virtual resource, and/or other virtual items and/or goods.Events may take place in the online game, such as a tournament. Usersmay be awarded virtual items based on their performance in the events.

SUMMARY

User participation in online game events (e.g., tournaments, battles,challenges, etc.) may be driven by the opportunity to obtain awardsbased on performance in the event (e.g., awarding users for placing1^(st), 2^(nd), and/or 3^(rd)). Users may lose interest and/or maybecome less engaged in an event if they do not believe they are going toplace high enough to obtain such awards. As such, one aspect of thedisclosure relates to a system for online gaming including virtualplaceholder items that can be exchanged for virtual items of value basedon user performance in the online game (e.g., in an event). The exchangemay be separate from, or in addition to, the distribution of awardsassociated with an event. Placeholder items included in a user'sinventory of virtual items may be exchanged for virtual items of valueeven if users do not place high enough in an event to receive an award.Therefore user engagement may be enhanced by the opportunity to exchangeplaceholder items for virtual items of value based on user performanceeven if the user does not believe they will win or at least place in theevent.

In some implementations, the system may comprise one or more physicalprocessors configured to execute one or more computer components forimplementing an instance of a virtual space and/or an online game takingplace within the virtual space and to facilitate the participation ofone or more users in the virtual space and/or the online game. Thecomputer program components may include one or more of a game component,a user component, a virtual shop component, an exchange component and/orother components.

The game component may be configured to execute an instance of an onlinegame. The online game may take place in a virtual space. The gamecomponent may be configured to implement the instance of the online gameto facilitate user participation in the online game. Users mayparticipate with the online game by controlling game entities in thevirtual space. Events in the online game include one or more of atournament, match, campaign, battle, siege, and/or other considerationsof gameplay events where performance relative other users may bequantitatively measured.

The user component may be configured to manage virtual item inventoriesassociated with the users in the online game. The inventories mayinclude one or more virtual items available for the users in the onlinegame. The inventories may include placeholder items and virtual items ofvalue. In some implementations, the user component may be configured tomanage a first inventory of one or more virtual items available for afirst user and a second inventory of one or more virtual items availablefor a second user.

The virtual shop component may be configured to effectuate presentationof offers to sell virtual items to users for consideration through ashop interface. The offers may include offers to sell virtual items ofvalue that are usable in the online game, sets of virtual items ofvalue, and/or placeholder items which can be exchanged for virtual itemsof value based on user performance. The virtual shop component may beconfigured to manage the transfer of virtual items to user inventoriesin response to purchase of the virtual items. For example, responsive tothe purchase of a first placeholder item by the first user, the virtualshop component may be configured to manage the transfer the firstplaceholder item to the first inventory of the first user.

The exchange component may be configured to exchange the placeholderitems included in the user inventories for virtual items of value thatare usable in the online game based on a quantitative performance of theusers relative to other users in events that take place in the onlinegame. Quantitative performance may correspond to a rank achieved throughgameplay in one or more events. A rank may include, for example, aposition, a placement, a status, a level, an acquisition, and/or otherconsideration of a quantitative measure of performance achieved throughgameplay. For example, subsequent to a first event in the online game,the first placeholder item may be exchanged in the first inventory ofthe first user for a first set of one or more virtual items determinedbased on quantitative performance of the first user in the first eventrelative to other users of the online game.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for online gaming including virtualplaceholder items that can be exchanged for virtual items of value basedon the quantitative performance of the users relative other users inevents that take place in virtual space.

FIG. 2 illustrates a particular embodiment of the server employed in thesystem depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an implementation of a user interface facilitatingthe exchange of placeholder items for virtual items of value based on aqualitative performance of the users relative other users in eventstaking place in the virtual space.

FIG. 4 illustrates an implementation of a user interface depicting apayout schedule for placeholder items based on the qualitativeperformance of the users relative other users in events taking place inthe virtual space.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of online gaming including placeholder itemsthat can be exchanged for virtual items of value based on thequantitative performance of the users relative other users in eventsthat take place in virtual space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for online gaming including virtualplaceholder items which can be exchanged for virtual items of valuebased on a quantitative performance of a user relative other users inevents that take place in the online game. The online game may takeplace within a virtual space. Users may participate with the virtualspace and/or the online game by controlling game entities in the virtualspace. Game entities may include one or more of a virtual character,group of characters, an object, a battalion, a clan, a unit, a village,an army, and/or other considerations. Events in the online game includeone or more of a tournament, match, campaign, battle, siege, and/orother considerations of gameplay events where performance relative otherusers may be quantitatively measured.

The virtual space may include a virtual shop configured to presentoffers to sell virtual items to users. Offers to sell virtual items mayinclude offers to sell virtual items of value that can be used in thevirtual space and/or online game, virtual placeholder items that can beexchanged for virtual items of value, and/or combinations thereof. Insome implementations, offers to sell virtual placeholder items may beassociated with offers to sell a set of virtual items of value whereinthe offer includes one or more virtual placeholder items included in theset as a promotion (e.g., for no additional charge). In someimplementations, virtual items of value and/or virtual placeholder itemsmay be acquired by users through other techniques, for example throughgameplay, by chance, and/or considerations.

Virtual items may include one or more of a virtual weapon, a tool, afood, a currency, a reward, a bonus, health, a potion, an enhancement, aplaceholder item, a mount, a power-up, a speed-up, clothing, a vehicle,an anatomical feature of a character or game entity, a troop or trooptype, a pet, a virtual resource, and/or other virtual items and/orgoods. Some virtual items may have value and provide utility in thevirtual space insofar as the items may be usable within the virtualspace and/or the online game that takes place in the virtual space.Utility may include, for example, a boost of an attribute of a gameentity controlled by a user in the virtual space. Placeholder items mayprovide no utility in the virtual space. Placeholder items may only be“used” in an exchange of the placeholder items for virtual items that doprovide utility and are usable in the online game (e.g., a sword may beused in the game to defeat an enemy). The placeholder items may beexchanged based on a quantitative performance of a user relative otherusers in events that take place in the virtual space and/or online game.Placeholder items may otherwise be considered “value-less” until aquantitative performance value can be determined and/or otherwiseobtained to facilitate such an exchange. Any value attributed to aplaceholder item may depend on the opportunity for potential exchangefor a virtual item of value that is usable in the online game. Hereinthe term “virtual item of value” may refer to virtual items that provideutility in the online game.

In some implementations, virtual items of value may be categorized asone of a premium virtual item, non-premium virtual item, and/or otherconsiderations. Premium virtual items may be virtual items of value thatprovide more utility in the online game (e.g., relative non-premiumitems), are of a higher value (e.g., relative non-premium items), and/orother considerations. Premium virtual items may be virtual items ofvalue that are “rare” in the online game. For example, a “rare” virtualitem of value may be a virtual item that can only be acquired throughexchange of a placeholder item (e.g., and not through purchase via thevirtual shop). Non-premium virtual items may be virtual items of valuethat provide less utility in the online game (e.g., relative premiumitems), are of a lower value (e.g., relative premium items), and/orother considerations. Non-premium virtual items may be virtual items ofvalue that are “common” in the online game. For example, a “common”virtual item of value may be a virtual item that can be purchasedthrough the virtual shop at a relatively low price.

In some implementations, the exchange of placeholder items with virtualitems of value based on user performance in an event may be carriedalternatively to, and/or simultaneously with, exiting awards distributedto users. For example, an event may award the winner a particular prize(e.g., a premium virtual item). The winner may also be able obtainadditional virtual items of value via the exchange of any placeholderitems included in the users inventory as described herein. In someimplementations, non-winning users may obtain virtual items of value viathe exchange of any placeholder items included in their inventory asdescribed herein.

In FIG. 1, providing the virtual space may include hosting the virtualspace over a network 26, such as the Internet. A host server may includeone or more processors configured to execute one or more computercomponents for implementing an instance of a virtual space and/or anonline game taking place within the virtual space and to facilitate theparticipation of one or more users in the virtual space and/or theonline game. The host server may be a game server 12. The server 12 mayinclude processor(s) 14.

The computer program components may include one or more of a gamecomponent 16, a user component 18, a virtual shop component 20, anexchange component 22, and/or other components. The server 12 may beconfigured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms28, according to client/server architecture. The client computingplatforms 28 can include, for example, a cellular telephone, asmartphone, a laptop, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, atelevision set-top box, smart TV, a gaming console, and/or other deviceas described herein and/or other considerations. The users 30 may accesssystem 10 and/or the virtual space via client computing platforms 28.

The game component 16 may be configured to implement an instance of thevirtual space executed by the computer components to determine state ofthe virtual space. The state may then be communicated (e.g., viastreaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or other stateinformation) from server 12 to client computing platforms 28 forpresentation to users 30. The state determined and transmitted to agiven client computing platform 28 may correspond to a view for a usercharacter (or other game entity) being controlled by a user 30 via inputdevices (e.g., a controller) at the given client computing platform 28.The state determined and presented to a given client computing platform28 may correspond to a location in the virtual space (e.g., location inthe game). The view described by the state for the given clientcomputing platform 28 may correspond, for example, to the location fromwhich the view is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or otherlocations, a zoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view,and/or view parameters of the view. One or more of the view parametersmay be selectable by the users 30.

An instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users 30 via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 28)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. Inother instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. Thetopography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface featuresof a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In someinstances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). An instanceexecuted by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual spaceis determined by game component 16 is not intended to be limiting. Thegame component 16 may be configured to express the virtual space in amore limited, or richer, manner. For example, views determined for thevirtual space representing the state of the instance of the virtualspace may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an eventin a given place within the virtual space. The views may includeadditional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/orother content) that describes particulars of the current state of theplace, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view mayinclude a generic battle graphic with a textual description of theopponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual placeswithin the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by game component16, users 30 may control game entities, simulated physical phenomena(e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or otherelements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual spaceand/or each other. The game entities may include virtual characters suchas avatars. As used herein, the term game entity may refer to an object(or group of objects) present in the virtual space that represents anindividual user. The game entity may be controlled by the user 30 withwhich it is associated. The user controlled element(s) may move throughand interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in thevirtual space, other objects in the virtual space). The user controlledelements controlled by and/or associated with a given user 30 may becreated and/or customized by the given user. The user may have an“inventory” of virtual items and/or currency that the user can use(e.g., by manipulation of a user character or other user controlledelement, and/or other items) within the virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space bycontrolling one or more of the available user controlled game entitiesin the virtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputsand/or commands input by the users through client computing platforms28. The users may interact with each other through communicationsexchanged within the virtual space. Such communications may include oneor more of textual chat, instant messages, private messages, voicecommunications, and/or other communications. Communications may bereceived and entered by the users 30 via their respective clientcomputing platforms 28. Communications may be routed to and from theappropriate users through server 12 (e.g., through game component 16)and/or through communications which are external to the system 10 (e.g.,text messaging services associated with the client computing platforms28).

The instance of the virtual space and/or the online game that takesplace therein may be persistent. That is, the virtual space and/or thegame may continue on whether or not individual players are currentlylogged in and/or participating in the game. A player that logs out ofthe virtual space and then logs back in some time later may find thevirtual space has been changed through the interactions of other playerswith the virtual space during the time the player was logged out. Thesechanges may include changes to the simulated physical space, changes inthe player's inventory, changes in other player's inventories, changesexperienced by non-player characters, changes to the virtual itemsavailable for use in the online game, and/or other changes.

The instance of the virtual space and/or online game may include eventsthat take place in the virtual space. Events in the virtual spaceinclude one or more of a tournament, match, campaign, battle, siege,challenge, and/or other considerations of events. Events may correspondto gameplay where users control game entities and interact with otherusers controlling game entities, with artificial intelligence controlledentities, and/or other considerations of gameplay within the events.Participation in events may be monitored and/or otherwise determinedsuch that the performance of users relative other users in the eventsmay be quantitatively valued. Quantitative performance may correspond toa rank achieved through gameplay in one or more events that take placein the virtual space. A rank may include, for example, a position, aplacement, a status, a level, an acquisition, and/or other considerationof a quantitative measure of performance achieved through gameplay.

In some implementations, rank may refer to a user's performance relativeall other users of the virtual space. In some implementations, rank mayrefer to a user's performance relative to other users that haveparticipated in a particular event taking place in the virtual space. Insome embodiments, rank may refer to a user's performance relative otherusers that are associated to the given user (e.g., via an alliance,clan, “friends” list, and/or other consideration of associations ofusers with other users). As an illustrative example, a rank may includea numerical measure, such as 3/10,000 (read as “third out of tenthousand”), 1^(st) place (e.g., for a particular event), 2^(nd) place(e.g., for a particular event), Level 10 warrior (e.g., a characterrank), Level 2 warrior, and/or other considerations. In someimplementations, rank may correspond to a level of the user and/or anentity controlled by the user in the virtual space. For example, usersmay start of an event as low level entity, such as a “Level 1 Grunt”(e.g., indicating a relatively low performance by the user). Users mayupgrade to higher level entities through gameplay, for example to becomea “Level 10 Captain” (e.g., indicating a high performance measure of theuser).

As an illustrative example in FIG. 2, the game component 16 may beconfigured to execute an instance of the virtual space and/or onlinegame that includes a first event 34 that takes place in the virtualspace and/or online game.

Returning to FIG. 1, the user component 18 may be configured to accessand/or manage one or more user profiles and/or user informationassociated with users of the system 10. The one or more user profilesand/or user information may include information stored by server 12, oneor more of the client computing platforms 28, and/or other storagelocations. The user profiles may include, for example, informationidentifying users (e.g., a username or handle, a number, an identifier,and/or other identifying information) within the virtual space, securitylogin information (e.g., a login code or password), virtual spaceaccount information, subscription information, virtual (or real)currency account information (e.g., related to currency held in creditfor a user), virtual inventory information (e.g., virtual inventoriesassociated with the users that include one or more virtual itemsavailable for the users in the virtual space), relationship information(e.g., information related to relationships between users in the virtualspace), virtual space usage information (e.g., a log-in historyindicating the frequency and/or amount of times the user logs-in to theuser accounts), demographic information associated with users,interaction history among users in the virtual space, information statedby users, browsing history of users, a client computing platformidentification associated with a user, a phone number associated with auser, and/or other information related to users.

As an illustrative example in FIG. 2, the user component 18 may beconfigured to manage virtual item inventories including a firstinventory 38 of one or more virtual items available for a first user 36,a second inventory 46 of one or more virtual items available for asecond user 44, a third inventory 54 of one or more virtual itemsavailable for a third user 52, and/or other inventories associated withother users. The first inventory 38 may include, for example, a firstvirtual item 40 of value, a first placeholder item 42, and/or otheritems available for the first user 36. The second inventory 46 mayinclude, for example, a second virtual item 48 of value, a secondplaceholder item 50, and/or other virtual items available for the seconduser 44. The third inventory 54 may include a third virtual item 56 ofvalue, a third placeholder item 58, and/or other virtual items availablefor the third user 52.

Returning to FIG. 1, the virtual shop component 20 may be configured topresent offers to sell instances of virtual items to users in a virtualshop. The virtual shop may be a simulated environment within the virtualspace which is accessible by users and presents the views of the virtualshop to the users. Users may access the virtual shop through one of avariety of ways. Users may access the virtual shop through themanipulation of one or more entities associated with the user within thevirtual space using control inputs and/or commands input by the usersthrough client computing platforms 28, and/or other way of access.

Manipulation of an entity, such as a character, may include moving theone or more entities through the virtual space using control inputsand/or commands input by the users through client computing platforms28, to move the one or more entities to the simulated environmentdesignating the location of the virtual shop within the virtual space.

Users may use control inputs and/or commands not associated with the oneor more entities to access the virtual shop. Control inputs and/orcommands may automatically present the instance of the virtual shop onthe clients computing platforms 28 (e.g., user selects a virtual shopbutton to automatically be taken to the virtual shop).

The instance of the virtual shop may be presented to users through ashop interface. The shop interface may be configured to present theoffers to sell virtual items to users. The shop interface may beconfigured to receive entry and/or selection of individual offers by theusers to effectuate acceptance and/or purchase of the offers at avirtual (or real) currency purchase price.

The simulated environment of the virtual shop may have topography. Thevirtual shop may express ongoing real-time interaction by one or moreusers (e.g., may have limited stock of virtual items for sale which canbe purchased by one or more users within the virtual space which can bedepleted), and/or include one or more objects (e.g., one or more virtualitems, a virtual teller, and/or other objects) positioned within thetopography that may be capable of locomotion within the topography. Thevirtual shop may display the virtual items, and/or the one or more setsof virtual content available for purchase by the users. Users may viewthe virtual items (e.g., individual virtual items and/or sets of virtualitems) available for purchase. Users may purchase the virtual itemsusing virtual (or real) currency. Transactions may take place with thevirtual teller, through various other actions of the user within theinstance of the virtual shop, and/or other offer/transaction mechanisms.In some implementations, the virtual shop component 20 may be configuredto manage transfer of instances of virtual items of value and instancesof placeholder items to user inventories in response to purchase of thevirtual items of value and placeholder items.

In some embodiments, offers to sell placeholder items may be presentedto users prior to the start of an event taking place in the online game.For example, prior to the start of an event, users may be prompted(e.g., via a banner ad, in-game notification, external notification,and/or other consideration) to purchase one or more placeholder items(e.g., via the virtual shop). In some embodiments, offers to sellplaceholder items may be presented to users during an event taking placein the online game. For example, at any time during an event (e.g., thestart, the middle, the end, and/or at an intermediate time therebetween), the users may be prompted to purchase placeholder items.Offers may be presented in other ways.

As an illustrative example, in FIG. 2, the offers presented by thevirtual shop component 20 may include a first offer 60 to sell one ormore virtual items to the first user 36 (e.g., other users), and/orother offers to sell one or more virtual items to other users. Forexample, the first offer 60 may include an offer to sell a set ofvirtual items of value that includes the first placeholder item 42included as a promotion (e.g., for no additional cost). However in someimplementations, the offers may include offers to sell placeholder itemsdirectly (e.g., the first placeholder item 42 sold directly to the firstuser 36). In some implementations, responsive to purchase of the set ofvirtual items of value including the first placeholder item 42 by thefirst user 36, the virtual shop component 20 may be configured totransfer the purchased set of virtual items of value and the firstplaceholder item 42 to the first inventory 38.

Returning to FIG. 1, the exchange component 22 may be configured toexchange the placeholder items included in the user inventories forvirtual items that are usable in the online game based on a quantitativeperformance of the users relative to other users in events that takeplace in the online game. In some implementations, quantitativeperformance of the users in the events may correspond to a rank achievedby the users through participation in an event (e.g., and/or more thanone event, for example, all events the user has participated in), and/orother considerations of performance. The higher the rank a given playerachieves, the value of the virtual item that may be made available forexchange placeholder items with may increase. In some implementations,placeholder items may be exchanged based on a payout schedule (e.g.,such as payout schedule 80 shown in the user interface 78 of FIG. 4).Placeholder items may be exchangeable with premium items of varyingvalue, non-premium items of varying value, and/or other considerationsof exchange based on the user's level of performance. For example, ahigh rank may be allow users to exchange placeholder items for premiumvirtual items of a high value, a lesser rank may allow users to exchangeplaceholder items for premium virtual items of lesser value, an evenlesser rank may allow users to exchange placeholder items fornon-premium items, and/or a threshold lowest rank may not allow anyexchange of placeholder items.

In some implementations, placeholder items may be exchanged on aone-to-one basis. In other words, after an event wherein the userachieves a rank suitable to facilitate exchange of placeholder items,the user may be able to exchange each placeholder item included in theirinventory for virtual item of value. In some implementations,placeholder items may be exchanged on a many-to-one basis, one-to-manybasis, and/or may be exchanged based on other considerations.

In some implementations, users may be able to select the quantity ofplaceholder item included in their inventory they wish to exchange forvirtual items of value (e.g., via a user interface such as userinterface 66 shown in FIG. 3). In some implementations, the exchange ofplaceholder items with virtual items of value based on quantitativeperformance may be predetermined (e.g., via a pre-set payout schedule).

As an illustrative example in FIG. 2, subsequent to the first event 34in the online game, the first placeholder item 42 may be exchanged inthe first inventory 38 of the first user 36 for a first set of one ormore virtual items. The first set may include, for example a firstexchanged virtual item 62. The exchange may be determined based onquantitative performance (e.g., a rank) of the first user 36 in thefirst event 34 relative to other users of the virtual space and/oronline game.

In some implementations, responsive to the quantitative performance ofthe first user 36 in the first event 34 being greater than aquantitative performance of a second user 44 in the first event 34, thefirst placeholder item 42 may be exchanged in the first inventory 38 ofthe first user 36 with the first exchanged virtual item 62 (and/or setof virtual items), and the second placeholder item 50 included in thesecond inventory 46 of the second user 44 may be exchanged with a secondexchanged virtual item 64 (and/or set of virtual items). Thequantitative performance of the first user 34 in the first event 34 maycorrespond to a first rank, and the quantitative performance of thesecond user 44 in the first event 34 may correspond to a second rankachieved in the first event, wherein the first rank is higher than thesecond rank. For example, if the rank of the first user 36 in the firstevent 34 is “1^(st) place”, and the rank of the second user 44 in thefirst event 34 is “4^(th) place”, then the value of the first exchangedvirtual item 62 may be greater than the value of the second exchangedvirtual item 64 (e.g., a premium item vs. a non-premium item, a premiumitem having a given value vs. a premium item of a lesser value, and/orother considerations).

In some implementations, responsive to a quantitative performance of thethird user 52 in the first event 34 being less than the quantitativeperformance of the second user 44 (and consequently the first user 36 aswell) in the first event 34, the third placeholder item 58 include inthe third inventory 54 of the third user 52 (and/or any placeholderitems included in a third inventory 54) may not be exchanged for virtualitems of value. For example, the rank achieved by the third user 52 inthe first event 34 may surpass a threshold at which placeholder itemsare not eligible for exchange. In some implementations, if the rankachieved by a user meets or surpasses a threshold such that placeholderitems are not eligible for exchange, the placeholder items included inthe give users inventory may be removed (e.g., the user may have toacquire more placeholder items for a subsequent event). In someimplementations, if the rank achieved by a user meets or surpasses athreshold such that placeholder items are not eligible for exchange, theplaceholder items included in the give users inventory may be kept untila quantitative performance is achieved to facilitate exchange of theplaceholder items.

FIG. 3 illustrates an implementation of a user interface 66 facilitatingthe exchange of placeholder items for virtual items of value based on auser's quantitative performance relative other users in events that takeplace in the virtual space. The user interface 66 may display the user'squantitative performance in an event (e.g., such as their rank 68). Theuser interface 66 may be configured to present the quantity 70 ofplaceholder items the users has available within their inventory. Theuser interface 66 may be configured to present to the user the virtualitem of value 72 which can be exchanged with their placeholder itemsbased on their quantitative performance in the event. In someimplementations, the users may be able to input the quantity ofplaceholder items they wish to exchange, for example, via entry into atext input box 74 (e.g., via a keyed input). Other techniques for userentry and/or selection may be considered. The user interface 66 may beconfigured to receive user entry and/or selection to finalize theexchange of placeholder items in the user inventories with the indicatedvirtual item of value, for example, via a “submit” interface element 76.Finalized exchange may be facilitated by the exchange component 22(shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

FIG. 4 depicts an implementation of a user interface 78 configured topresent a payout schedule 80 illustrating a predetermined exchange ofplaceholder items based on the quantitative performance of a userrelative other users in an event. In some implementations, userinterface 78 may be presented as part of the shop interface as describedherein. In some implementations, user interface 78 may be presentedprior to, during, and/or after an event taking place in the virtualspace.

(48) It is noted that although the payout schedule 80 depicted in theuser interface 78 recites items “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”, in actualitythese terms may be replaced with a name and/or description of a virtualitem of value that meets the limitation of “premium” and/or“non-premium” as recited therein.

Returning to FIG. 1, the server 12, client computing platforms 28,and/or external resources 32 may be operatively linked via one or moreelectronic communication links. For example, such electroniccommunication links may be established, at least in part, via a network26 such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciatedthat this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of thisdisclosure includes implementations in which servers 12, clientcomputing platforms 28, and/or external resources 32 may be operativelylinked via some other communication media.

The external resources 32 may include sources of information, hostsand/or providers of virtual spaces outside of system 10, externalentities participating with system 10, external entities forplayer-to-player communications, and/or other resources. In someimplementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein toexternal resources 32 may be provided by resources included in system10.

The server 12 may include electronic storage 24, one or more processors14, and/or other components. The server 12 may include communicationlines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a networkand/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server 12 in FIG. 1 isnot intended to be limiting. The server 12 may include a plurality ofhardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together toprovide the functionality attributed herein to server 12. For example,server 12 may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operatingtogether as server 12.

Electronic storage 24 may comprise electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 24 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server 12and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server 12 via,for example, a port or a drive. A port may include a USB port, afirewire port, and/or other port. A drive may include a disk driveand/or other drive. Electronic storage 24 may include one or more ofoptically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronicstorage 24 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g.,cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). Electronic storage 24 may store software algorithms,information determined by processor 14, information received from server12, information received from client computing platforms 28, and/orother information that enables server 12 to function as describedherein.

Processor(s) 14 is configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server 12. As such, processor 14 may include one or moreof a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designedto process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor 14 is shown in FIG. 1 as asingle entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor 14 may include one or more processing units.These processing units may be physically located within the same device,or processor 14 may represent processing functionality of a plurality ofdevices operating in coordination. The processor 14 may be configured toexecute components 16, 18, 20, 22. Processor 14 may be configured toexecute components 16, 18, 20, 22 by software; hardware; firmware; somecombination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or othermechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor 14.

It should be appreciated that although components 16, 18, 20, 22 areillustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a single processingunit, in implementations in which processor 14 includes multipleprocessing units, one or more of components 16, 18, 20, 22 may belocated remotely from the other components. The description of thefunctionality provided by the different components 16, 18, 20, 22described above is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to belimiting, as any of components 16, 18, 20, 22 may provide more or lessfunctionality than is described. For example, one or more of components16, 18, 20, 22 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionalitymay be provided by other ones of components 16, 18, 20, 22, and/or othercomponents. As another example, processor 14 may be configured toexecute one or more additional components that may perform some or allof the functionality attributed below to one of components 16, 18, 20,22.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 100 of online gaming including placeholderitems that can be exchanged for virtual items of value based on aquantitative performance of users relative other users in events thattake place in the online game. The operations of method 100 presentedbelow are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method 100may be accomplished with one or more additional operations notdescribed, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed.Additionally, the order in which the operations of method 100 areillustrated in FIG. 5 and described below are not intended to belimiting.

In some embodiments, method 100 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 100 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 100.

Referring now to method 100 in FIG. 5, at an operation 102 an instanceof an online game may be executed. The online game may take place in avirtual space. Executing the online game may include implementing theinstance of the online game to facilitate user participation in theonline game. Users may participate with the online game by controllinggame entities in the virtual space. In some implementations, operation102 may be performed by a game component the same as or similar tovirtual game component 16 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 104, virtual item inventories including one or morevirtual items available to the users in the virtual space may bemanaged. Virtual items inventories may include virtual items of valueand virtual placeholder items acquired by users. The inventories mayinclude a first inventory of one or more virtual items available for afirst user and a second inventory of one or more virtual items availablefor a second user. In some implementations, operation 104 may beperformed by a user component the same as or similar to the usercomponent 18 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 106, offers to sell virtual items to users forconsideration through a shop interface may be presented. The offers mayinclude offers to sell placeholder items which can be exchanged forvirtual items of value that are usable in the online game. Responsive topurchase of a first placeholder item by the first user, transfer thefirst placeholder item to the first inventory. In some implementations,operation 106 may be performed by a virtual shop component the same asor similar to the virtual shop component 20 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed herein).

At an operation 108, the placeholder items included in the userinventories may be exchanged for virtual items that are usable in theonline game based on a quantitative performance of the users relative toother users in events that take place in the online game. Subsequent toa first event in the online game, the first placeholder item may beexchanged in the first inventory of the first user for a first set ofone or more virtual items determined based on quantitative performanceof the first user in the first event relative to other users of theonline game. In some implementations, operation 108 may be performed byan exchange component the same as or similar to the exchange component22 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for online gaming including virtualplaceholder items which can be exchanged for virtual items of valuebased on user performance in the online game, the system comprising: oneor more physical processors configured by computer-readable instructionsto: execute an instance of an online game, and to implement the instanceof the online game to facilitate user participation in the online gamethat takes place in a virtual space, wherein users participate with theonline game by controlling game entities in the virtual space; managevirtual item inventories associated with the users in the online game,the inventories including one or more virtual items available for theusers in the online game, including a first inventory of one or morevirtual items available for a first user and a second inventory of oneor more virtual items available for a second user; effectuatepresentation of offers to sell virtual items to users for considerationthrough a shop interface, the offers including offers to sellplaceholder items which can be exchanged for virtual items of value thatare usable in the online game, and manage transfer of placeholder itemsto user inventories in response to purchase of the placeholder items,such that the responsive to purchase of a first placeholder item by thefirst user, transfer the first placeholder item to the first inventory;and exchange the placeholder items included in the user inventories forvirtual items that are usable in the online game based on a quantitativeperformance of the users relative to other users in events that takeplace in the online game, such that subsequent to a first event in theonline game the first placeholder item is exchanged in the firstinventory of the first user for a first set of one or more virtual itemsdetermined based on quantitative performance of the first user in thefirst event relative to other users of the online game.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the one or more physical processors are configured bycomputer-readable instructions such that responsive to a quantitativeperformance of the first user in the first event being greater than aquantitative performance of a second user in the first event, the firstplaceholder item is exchanged in the first inventory of the first userwith a first virtual item, and a second placeholder item included in thesecond inventory of the second user is exchanged with a second virtualitem, wherein the value of the first virtual item is greater than thevalue of the second virtual item.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein theone or more physical processors are configured by computer-readableinstructions such that events in the online game include one or more ofa tournament or match.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or morephysical processors are configured by computer-readable instructionssuch that the quantitative performance of the users in the eventscorresponds to a rank achieved by the users in the events.
 5. The systemof claim 1 wherein the one or more physical processors are configured bycomputer-readable instructions such that the quantitative performance ofthe first user corresponds to a first rank achieved in the first eventand the quantitative performance of the second user corresponds to asecond rank achieved in the first event, wherein the first rank ishigher than the second rank.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the one ormore physical processors are configured by computer-readableinstructions such that offers to sell placeholder items are presented tousers prior to the start of an event taking place in the online game. 7.The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more physical processors areconfigured by computer-readable instructions such that offers to sellplaceholder items are presented to users during an event taking place inthe online game.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or morephysical processors are configured by computer-readable instructionssuch that the first virtual item is a premium virtual item and thesecond virtual item is a non-premium virtual item.
 9. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the one or more physical processors are configured bycomputer-readable instructions such that both the first virtual item andthe second virtual item are premium virtual items.
 10. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the one or more physical processors are configured bycomputer-readable instructions such that responsive to a quantitativeperformance of a third user in the first event being less than thequantitative performance of the second user in the first event, anyplaceholder items included in a third inventory for the third user arenot exchanged for virtual items of value.
 11. A method of online gamingincluding virtual placeholder items which can be exchanged for virtualitems of value based on user performance in the online game, the methodbeing implemented in a computer system including one or more physicalprocessors and storage media storing machine-readable instructions, themethod comprising: executing an instance of an online game, andimplementing the instance of the online game to facilitate userparticipation in the online game that takes place in a virtual space,wherein users participate with the online game by controlling gameentities in the virtual space; managing virtual item inventoriesassociated with the users in the online game, the inventories includingone or more virtual items available for the users in the online game,including a first inventory of one or more virtual items available for afirst user and a second inventory of one or more virtual items availablefor a second user; effectuating presentation of offers to sell virtualitems to users for consideration through a shop interface, the offersincluding offers to sell placeholder items which can be exchanged forvirtual items of value that are usable in the online game, and managingtransfer of placeholder items to user inventories in response topurchase of the placeholder items, such that the responsive to purchaseof a first placeholder item by the first user, transfer the firstplaceholder item to the first inventory; and exchanging the placeholderitems included in the user inventories for virtual items that are usablein the online game based on a quantitative performance of the usersrelative to other users in events that take place in the online game,such that subsequent to a first event in the online game the firstplaceholder item is exchanged in the first inventory of the first userfor a first set of one or more virtual items determined based onquantitative performance of the first user in the first event relativeto other users of the online game.
 12. The method of claim 11 whereinexchanging the placeholder items includes, responsive to a quantitativeperformance of the first user in the first event being greater than aquantitative performance of a second user in the first event, the firstplaceholder item is exchanged in the first inventory of the first userwith a first virtual item, and a second placeholder item included in thesecond inventory of the second user is exchanged with a second virtualitem, wherein the value of the first virtual item is greater than thevalue of the second virtual item.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein theevents in the online game include one or more of a tournament or match.14. The method of claim 11 wherein the quantitative performance of theusers in the events corresponds to a rank achieved by the users in theevents.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the quantitative performanceof the first user corresponds to a first rank achieved in the firstevent and the quantitative performance of the second user corresponds toa second rank achieved in the first event, wherein the first rank ishigher than the second rank.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein theoffers to sell placeholder items are presented to users prior to thestart of an event taking place in the online game.
 17. The method ofclaim 11 wherein the offers to sell placeholder items are presented tousers during an event taking place in the online game.
 18. The method ofclaim 11 wherein the first virtual item is a premium virtual item andthe second virtual item is a non-premium virtual item.
 19. The method ofclaim 11 wherein both the first virtual item and the second virtual itemare premium virtual items.
 20. The method of claim 11 wherein exchangingthe placeholder items includes, responsive to a quantitative performanceof a third user in the first event being less than the quantitativeperformance of the second user in the first event, any placeholder itemsincluded in a third inventory for the third user are not exchanged forvirtual items of value.